Too Much Salt? How Malicious Compliance Created the Saltiest Potatoes in Culinary School History
If you’ve ever taken a class—any class—you know the feeling: you’re told to follow instructions, even when you know there’s a better way. It’s all part of learning, right? But what happens when you follow those instructions a little too well? One culinary student found out the hard (and hilariously salty) way, and their story from r/MaliciousCompliance has become a delicious recipe for a cautionary tale.
Picture this: a bustling culinary school kitchen, the scent of boiling potatoes in the air, and a chef instructor determined to teach his students the “proper” way to salt their starches. Our protagonist, u/FaerCobrew, had spent years perfecting mashed potatoes the old-fashioned way—by feel, not by measurement. But sometimes, expertise is no match for a boss’s stubbornness.
When Instructions Go Too Far: The Salty Saga Begins
Let’s set the scene: Our hero is assigned the humble task of boiling potatoes for mashing—a staple in any kitchen, but one that can trip up even seasoned home cooks. The school’s method? Salt the water, and don’t be shy about it. The chef’s mantra: “Add more than you think you should.”
Now, imagine you’ve been making mashed potatoes since childhood. You know exactly how much salt is needed. But your instructor looks at you, shakes his head, and insists you “add more than you think you should.” Once, you might laugh it off. Twice, you might try to reason. The third time? Well, that’s when the spirit of malicious compliance kicks in.
Obediently, our student adds the right amount of salt…and then, as ordered, a generous handful more. The result? Potatoes so salty, even the ocean might blush. Not even the industrial-sized mixers in the bakery could save this batch. The only solution—dilution with a mountain of new potatoes—wasn’t an option. The day was lost to the salt gods.
The Art and Science (and Salt) of Cooking
What makes this story so relatable—beyond the schadenfreude of a chef’s comeuppance—is its commentary on the “right way” to cook. As the author notes, recipes are guides, not commandments. Some of the best dishes in history were born from happy accidents or creative deviations. Culinary school, however, often prioritizes precision and uniformity over intuition.
And yet, as anyone who’s worked in a professional kitchen can tell you, expectations can be everything. Maybe the chef’s insistence was less about the potatoes and more about the need for consistency in a high-pressure environment, where one person’s shortcut becomes someone else’s headache. But sometimes, that rigidity leads to truly disastrous results—like a batch of mashed potatoes destined for the Dead Sea.
Lessons in Compliance…and Comedy
There’s something universally satisfying about a well-executed act of malicious compliance. It’s the ultimate “I told you so,” delivered with a side of salty humor. Our student’s actions weren’t malicious in the mean-spirited sense—just a perfect demonstration of what happens when you force someone to ignore their expertise.
The aftermath? The chef finally learned to trust his students a bit more—or at least, to think twice before demanding blind obedience. And everyone else got a lesson in humility (and perhaps a mild case of sodium overload).
When Kitchens Collide: Professional vs. Personal
This salty story also highlights a deeper truth about working life: what’s “right” often depends on who’s in charge. In home kitchens, flexibility reigns supreme. In culinary school or professional kitchens, expectations are king. Sometimes, doing exactly as told is the best way to show why a little trust and communication go a long way.
So, the next time you’re told to “add more than you think you should,” remember: sometimes the best lessons come not from perfection, but from a kitchen catastrophe shared by all.
Share Your Salty Stories!
Have you ever followed instructions a little too well? Did your compliance result in culinary chaos or workplace mayhem? Share your stories in the comments below—and don’t forget to pass the salt (carefully)!
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Original Reddit Post: Malicious Compliance at culinary school